Hey.
The crowds were smaller,
the number of people arrested
down compared to a year ago.
And it seems for the first time
in recent years, Atlantans were
more accepting of freaking.
So my friends couldn't take the normal
routes they usually take to my house.
So it was mildly inconvenient, .
Nothing to make a big deal out .
I just want to see the kids come down there,
have fun and be safe, you know,
and just keep it peaceful as possible.
This year the kids were
more peaceful than last.
Police handed out 1127 citations this
year compared to 2073 for FREAKING 96786.
People were arrested this year,
more than 1200 a year ago.
A lower police tolerance for
criminal activity might have
kept the event peaceful.
519 cars were impounded this ye,
compared only 368 last year,
and police confiscated 39 weapos
for freaking 9716.
For freaking 96. We
did not have serious assaults
associated with the vets.
We did not have the looting as
we've experienced in the past.
Police Chief Beverly Harvard
called the event of success,
and most residents we talked to
today don't seem to disagree.
There were more police at
intersections directing the tra,
make sure people weren't
stopping and getting out.
So I thought that it it went be,
at least definitely from the
standpoint of the police protecn
vendors say Freaknick will bring $30 million
to Atlanta. Maybe that's why everybody wants
to be a vendor at least for the weekend
here. There's supposed to be at least
250,000 people down here this y,
so everybody's going to have
a little money to spend.
We figured we'd fit 500C shirts.
This would be no problem getting rid of them,
but not everybody wants to
tap into the freak Nic dollar.
The N AA CP is investigating chs
that local hotels are lying to the Black
College students about being bo.
We feel like we do have some pry
* evidence. Like I said,
we've seen booking statistics,
we have seen some memos, and wrg
is an example of stereotyping o.
Black people in general and
black students in particular.
To get a real appreciation of
what freaknik is all about,
you'll need some Dramamine and a seat belt.
Freaknik is such a big party,
even the cars are dancing in the street.
Some of these freaknik revelers
have been riding the celebratios
sometimes bumpy wave of populary
for. 10 years because this is the place
where you come and relax when yu
get off work and everything thau
know that you had Hector for the day.
You would come and sit down
and chill and no crime.
You know all of us like a big family.
Many of the partiers like Johnny Matthews,
the man behind the wheel want to
see Freaknick's critics lighten.
It's just fun.
Everybody having a good time
come to blossom steam from cram and they
you know doing homework. Doing anything,
they just come in and have fun.
What's that? North Carolina to ?